About Me

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

What My Kayak Sunset means

When I was kayaking I took a picture of a sunset. But it is deeper than that. There is nothing like being out on the water, just me and nature. It is peaceful and wonderful, almost as if all the cares in the world disappear. The picture that above is the picture I took.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I don't understand how it can be so hard for some people, and yet it is so easy for others who don't even try, don't even want it.

I don't understand how it can be so expensive, but the government and insurances look the other way.

I don't understand how someone can tell me that it is my fault, that I am not faithful enough. How is that possible when people who are so young or are at the lowest points in their life can get this. Are they being faithful to God?

I don't understand how some people will jump through hoops just to have a miracle, and constantly face heartbreak, and others will jump through hoops to get rid of their miracle.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

It was all over the news yesterday as I was working out at the gym. It is what gave me motivation to work hard, to get angry so that the adrenaline was pumping through my system. California was going to be taking the ax even more to the already drained education budgets. Why? Why can't the rich lawmakers take some pay cuts? Why can't they cut some other unnecessary spending? Is that what they consider the education budget to be? Unnecessary spending?

We have a program in our nation called No Child Left Behind. I am not going to get on my soapbox about THAT today because we would be here all day. I might win the record for world's longest blog post. (But do keep in mind that I think it needs to be overthrown. It is completely unrealistic.) But the issue here is that teachers are told to teach to these expectations. Schools are being required to meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) or they will be taken over by the government and the teachers of those schools will lose their jobs. Students are required to get 100% on tests that is IMPOSSIBLE to get 100% on ( yes, impossible...don't get me started...) and they are being required to do it 100% of the time. Now, Mr. Schwarzenegger and all of the other governors taking money away from education, tell me HOW that is supposed to happen when teachers are losing their jobs, when school districts can afford new supplies (or ANY supplies), when the school week is being cut to 4 days, and the school day is being cut in half??? Tell me HOW that is supposed to happen when districts can't afford to send teachers to conferences to keep them up to date on new technologies in the field, when schools can't afford to keep teachers in the classrooms? Schools are cutting teachers and overloading classrooms. No, Mr. Schwarzenegger and all of the other goverenors taking money away from an alread depleted educatino budget... this is NOT the answer! You can not expect perfection from a broken machine, and that is what our education system is today. A broken machine. All because of NCLB and education budgets, or rather the lack there of.

And that is why I had a great workout yesterday and the adrenaline to rip out my entire front garden, as well as take the dogs on a longggg walk. At least some good comes out of cutting education budgets...

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Remember the pillow I blogged about last time? If not here is a picture:Well I won it!!!!!!! I am so excited! I never win! Well I guess I can stop saying never because I won! Lucky #7 too! It pays being a teacher and following the directions because apparently the numbers that were chosen before mine didn't follow all of the directions, which is how my number was chosen and I did. :) I am always getting on students for not following the directions. It pays to do so! I am super excited! Again, I encourage you to check out this website: HudsonGoods.com. It is awesome! Totally my decorating style! And thanks so much to Layla from the blog The Lettered Cottage for doing the giveaway! If any of my readers ever need decorating ideas go to her blog! It is very inspiring! She has such an keen eye for detail and style!

**edit** I changed some of my "awesomes". Sometimes when I am excited and write I get carried away. This is why we teach students to have other's edit their work in school. Thanks for pointing the many uses of "awesome" in this post Jeannette!

Monday, May 11, 2009

I love the blog The Lettered Cottage. She has the most adorable decorating style! Right now she is doing a giveaway from HudsonGoods.com which has some SUPER SUPER adorable pieces for decorating including this pillow, which is what she is giving away. Wouldn't this look adorable in my house?? I *LOVE* stars and decorate with them in every room as a subtle theme. So I entered to win this pillow.Check out the website for other awesome stuff that HudsonGoods.com has available!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald Quinn

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I hate running. I always have. But I am starting to really like exercising. I have a goal. I would like to run a 5k. I don't think I will get to one this year so I am setting a goal that I run one by the end of next year. I've asked my dad to do one with me. He is thinking about it. But I would really love to run a 5k. I know... it isn't much, but it is something. I am already doing 3 miles at the gym, and a 5k is 3.1....... miles. Wish me luck!

There is a blog that I follow called The Lettered Cottage. I just ADORE her style. I entered a contest she is having for this:(Of course if I get it it would have a T on it). This runner was created by the Etsy shop "Coastline", who makes some ADORABLE things!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

So without further ado... here is what I've not been up to lately:

It was not me who did not go to the gym at all last week and instead think that walking my dogs once a day would suffice. Yikes. If it were me, my defense would be that the last three weeks were difficult weeks in the semester and I was putting a lot of time an energy into that and will get back to the gym STAT!

It was not me who said she was going to scrub the hardwood floors yesterday and then didn't.

It was not me who slept in every day of the weekend (sleeping in for me = 8:45-9:15am). Pssshhh who would do that on their days off?!

It was not me who bought Strawberry Milkshake Whoppers at Wal Mart yesterday because she needed a pick-me up. Nah! I am the epitome of a healthy eater.

It was not me who had a dream about being honked at by big trucks. HA! What a goofy dream! Why would anyone dream about big trucks???

It is not me who is still lounging in her PJs at 11:30am on a Monday when she has someone to meet at noon for lunch. I am dressed to the T!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Maybe you haven't read up on the laws in the last three years, but it is a law in Pennsylvania to have your headlights on while your windshield wipers are on. While we were driving from our house to Home Depot and back, which was a total distance of maybe 2 miles, we saw over 20 drivers without their headlights on. It is pouring rain here today and impossible to see some of these cars from a far distance. Maybe if you would have your headlights on, there would be less accidents during weather. This law is also in effect during snow and we all know how terrible PA drivers become when it snows. So please, think of another person and TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS!!!

The newest member of our household...our new DISHWASHER!!! :) After Jeff pulled the door off of our last dishwasher (Hercules! I know!), we had to get a new one. It was delivered yesterday and Jeff installed it! I am very happy to have it. I hate washing dishes. I love technology (most of the time).

We went out to eat the other night to Olive Garden. YUM! While we were waiting to be seated we sat on chairs near the host/ess station. The host that was there was talking about how bored he was so his solution was to talk in different voices every time a call came in. It was hilarious! First he did a Barry White voice, and then an English voice. I'm not sure how many others he did but it was just hilarious that he was doing them at all. He said the English one was hard to keep up with so he switched back to regular speech partway through and the woman on the other end of the line was so confused!

1. I looked forward to 3:00pm today and now it is past (bittersweet!)2. going to the Orioles game next Saturday with my hubs and his brother3. going to Disney in June!4. My birthday in July!5. starting a special medication in July6. starting our family...7. our 2 year anniversary!8. being permanently certified in December! (but first finding out my fall placement WHENEVER THAT MAY COME!!! argh, haha)

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY

1. went to school and taught2. went to a meeting after school3. got gas for my car4. went out to eat at a crappy restaurant with my hubs... NEVER going there again!5. took my dogs for a walk with the hubs6. baked cookies for my kids7. took a shower8. went to bed

8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO

1. be certified now2. find out my fall placement3. not have to take this med in July because something would just occur naturally4. clean my house in 5 minutes5. remodel the bathroom... but we don't have a ton of money so it will just be painted6. buy a lot of clothes7. sleep in (the hubs doesn't let me because he gets lonely, haha)8. snap my fingers and have our kitchen complete

8 SHOWS I WATCH

1. LOST2. American Idol3. So You Think You Can Dance?4. The Biggest Loser5. Southland6. The Hills (guilty pleasure... I feel amazing about my life when I watch this show)7. Bones8. Ghost Whisperer

8 BLOGGERS TAGGED (goodness I hope I can find 8 people to tag!)1. My corner of the universe2. Kari at Better Together3. Marialena at Just an Old-Fashioned Gal4. Abby on Life with B&A5. Jennifer on This Girl Loves Pink6. Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours7. Melissa at Simple, Positive, Happy8. YOU! Whoever wants to carry this on can feel free!